“No; I knew nothing of my father’s affairs.”
Sympathy seemed to be struggling behind “Polite-Attention-to-Business,” while for a moment a real look of distress flitted over the parchment face. He paused for an instant, reflecting while he assorted his papers.
“I am,” he said, “the lawyer of his excellency the Count de Lloseta.”
Eve and Fitz exchanged a glance, and as silence was kept the lawyer went on.
“Three generations ago,” he said, “a Count de Lloseta, the grandfather of this present excellency, made over on ‘rotas’ the estate and house known as the Val d’Erraha to the grandfather of the late Cavalier Challoner--a Captain Challoner, one of Admiral Byng’s men.”
Again he paused, arranging his papers.
“The Majorcan system ‘rotas’ is known to your excellency?”
“No, señor.”
“On this system an estate is made over for one or two or three generations by the proprietor to the lessee who farms or sublets the land, and in lieu of rent hands over to the proprietor a certain proportion of the crops. Does your excellency follow me?”
Eve did not answer at once. Then the lawyer’s meaning seemed to dawn upon her.